Vagal tone as a unifying mechanism for mental and physical health in Japan

2019 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19F19010
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: 内田 由紀子 京都大学, こころの未来研究センター, 教授 (60411831)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): BOWEN KIMBERLY 京都大学, こころの未来研究センター, 外国人特別研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2019-07-24 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: Social integration / Single-person households / well-being / Heart rate variability / Culture / Health / Cardiovascular disease

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Thus far, the following have been accomplished more or less on schedule, as planned in the early proposal: In addition to mastering two research literatures (vagal tone / heart rate variability, solitude/living arrangement), we conducted an in-depth review of existing empirical research in order to select the most appropriately related and psychometrically validated self-report instruments and experimental tasks to be used in the research. We used these literature reviews to design an evidence-based brief intervention to manipulate vagal tone. We prepared the “bank” of surveys and documents to be used to the experiment, while also locating existing translated versions of surveys into Japanese where possible. For surveys currently only available in English, we have prepared them for translation and prepared the IRB application for approval. We also a pilot study online in order to gather some descriptive data on the experiences of individuals in Japan who live alone. The data has been analyzed and presented within the lab. It is now being integrated into a larger manuscript on the topic of living alone and health in Japan which we are preparing to submit for peer review. Dr. kimberly attended the 2020 Society for Personality and Social Psychology Annual Meeting in February, in order to attend an intensive day-long seminar on health psychology / social relationships and also to network with researchers in emerging new research areas related to my topic, including solitude and ambulatory / diary-based research methods.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

The originally proposed plan involved starting the in-person experimental portion of the study early in fiscal year 2020. However, due to the coronavirus, in-person experiments are temporarily postponed for the foreseeable future. We are planning to run the experiment later this year. While waiting, we will continue to make progress on this original question of this research plan by conducting an online survey study as an alternative (see future research plans below).

Strategy for Future Research Activity

First, while the IRB application is submitted and under review, an alternative study will compare individuals by single-person household status, moving history, and other correlates of post-industrialized / modern lifestyles. The study will examine whether individuals differ in social integration / loneliness and mental well-being during the state of emergency in Japan, as well as whether cardiovascular disease-related health habits (diet, exercise and activity, sleep) and self-reported measures of health (symptoms, etc.) differ as a function of living alone. This data will be collect and analyzed in the month of May and subsequently prepared for publication in June / July. The plan is to complete data collection for the originally planned experiment with physiological measurements by the end of December 2020 (pending coronavirus developments). Data will be cleaned and entered as it is collected, so that analysis and preparation for publication can begin immediately upon study completion. Additionally, guest lectures, conference abstracts, and other similar dissemination avenues will be pursued.